Apple launches red iPhone

Apple has announced a new special-edition iPhone with a red aluminium finish, a first for Apple smartphones, as part of a drive to raise funds to fight AIDS.

A portion of the sales revenue from the new red iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus is to go to the AIDS-fighting organization Red, with which Apple has collaborated for more than a decade.

This marks the most striking change so far to the iPhone’s traditionally low-key colour spectrum, which includes rose gold, gold, silver, black and jet black.

Apple chief Tim Cook said in a statement that Apple customers have already made a significant impact in fighting the spread of the virus through the purchase of other special-edition Apple gadgets benefiting the charity.

Red raises money through the sale of branded products for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which invests in local programmes to end those diseases.

Apple is the world’s largest corporate donor to the Global Fund, having contributed more than 130 million dollars through its partnership with the organization, Red chief Deborah Dugan said.

The special-edition iPhones will be available to order online worldwide and in stores beginning on March 24.